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I want to start an Ice Cream Business. Help!

I want to start an Ice Cream Business. I currently am in my last semester of
college and will be finished in December. After that, I want to open up an
Ice Cream business of some sort. I would ultimately love to own a shop, but
right now my financial status is not great. I am thinking about doing an Ice
Cream/Dessert catering business to start with, then I want to move forward to
buy land and own an ice cream shop possibly with other activities (such as
mini golf or some sort). I need to know how I can get started, what should I
do for funds, and what permits do I need for an at home business versus a
shop. Thank you everyone for your help...any input would be fantastic :)

erica19891219 | Window Shopper |
11/17/2013 - 11:06 pm

The most expensive thing to start up an ice cream business I think is the equipment, you may consider buying the equipment from other countries, like China. Here&#39;s the website, you can find out all kinds of ice cream machines here, I&#39;m sure you can get some of them based on your financial status.
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kanifya | Window Shopper |
11/13/2013 - 6:25 pm

Although everyone comments are great...I believe you should research the ice cream industry first. UGA has a Food Pic program which is a great program. I would advice you to do crunch the numbers making sure your project is profitable.
Best of luck and feel free to reach out to me with any questions.
(This post was edited to remove a reference to a link. Please review our Community Best Practices for more information about how best to participate in our online discussions. Thank you.)

BusinessLawyer | Window Shopper |
9/28/2013 - 10:13 pm

JGabriel | Community Moderator |
8/13/2013 - 9:34 am

In case you haven&#39;t already, check out some of our resources for starting a business. You&#39;ll find a guide to help you determine if you&#39;re ready, details about writing a business plan, and preparing business finances.
Another good place to start is with one of SBA resource partners: SCORE, Small Business Development Centers or Women&rsquo;s Business Centers. These organizations provide free business counseling and training. To find your nearest SBA resource partner, enter your zip code in our local assistance guide.

diendainam | Window Shopper |
7/28/2013 - 10:15 am

DavetheAccountant | Window Shopper |
7/28/2013 - 8:32 am

Sarah:

In my opinion, it would be best for you to start out by working at an ice
cream shop and ask the owner questions. As the owner's trust in you grows and
you learn more; many of your questions/concerns will be answered. This is a
tough industry as gaining market share is essential to success.

For funding, begin the process now with your family. Read:
http://businessecon.org/2012/12/how-to-find-investment-capital-the-family-connection/
to begin the process with your family now. There are more articles in the
start-up section on that website related to financing and getting capital.

AngelBiz | Window Shopper |
7/17/2013 - 2:07 pm

Sarah

Congratulations on your drive and desire to start a busines on your own.

One way to overcome the challenge of insufficient financial resources is to
look for a partner who can contribute money and you can provide sweat equity.
You will be able to realize your dream without having to invest significantly
right away. Make sure you choose the right partner and establish solid
partnership agreement.

I have written several articles on partnership and how to start business with
little money. You can find them by going to the link below.

BMT | Window Shopper |
7/17/2013 - 8:46 am

As you state, it might take time for you to build your business and revenue
enough until you get the wherewithal to buy your own shop. But, have you
thought about partnering with another establishment to sell your ice cream -
like another local restaurant or specialty shop? You could open a small stand
in a corner of their business and rely on their traffic to build your
business - just work a deal that you pay them a small portion of your
revenue. Could even think about asking a local mini golf or water park and
partner with them - until you grow your business large enough to go at it
alone.

For your other questions, seek out free business advice in your area - like
SBDC, SCORE, etc - they can help you research and develop (for free) your
business idea and help you answer all those area specific questions you have
like permits and such as they already know your local area's requirements
(state and local rules and laws).

BizResearcher | Window Shopper |
7/16/2013 - 2:17 pm

Have you considered starting with an ice cream truck? That would allow you to
bring your business to parties and city and public events and get your name
out there. How cool would kids find it to have an ice cream truck come to
their birthday party or their little league play-offs. You could arrange in
advance with parents to be there and for the parent to pay you for the ice
cream. You could even customize the flavors you bring to fit the occasion.

You will still need to make the ice cream in a commercial kitchen and your
truck will need to be licensed and inspected, but this would be a great way
to start, build a reputation, then transition into a store front. And it will
be way less expensive.

bizplanmentor | Window Shopper |
7/18/2013 - 12:32 pm

Show Replied Text…

Have you considered starting with an ice cream truck? That would allow you to bring your business to parties and city and public events and get your name out there. How cool would kids find it to have an ice cream truck come to their birthday party or their little league play-offs. You could arrange in advance with parents to be there and for the parent to pay you for the ice cream. You could even customize the flavors you bring to fit the occasion.
You will still need to make the ice cream in a commercial kitchen and your truck will need to be licensed and inspected, but this would be a great way to start, build a reputation, then transition into a store front. And it will be way less expensive.